Saturday Update...

First of all, I'm ridiculously upset that nobody responded to my recent post about needing a swap-buddy for Christmas in July. Please know that the position is still open and I am eagerly seeking a care-package companion :)

In other news...

1) I picked up the key to my new apartment this morning!
2) I can't freaking wait to move into my new apartment.
3) Brian's band has a show tonight... (see picture)
4) I reinstated my Netflix account
5) I start my new class on Monday... "Media @ the Millenium"
6) I start my new PAYING PostSecret internship Monday!
7) I'm getting paid $300 to watch my neighbors house for a week... HELLS YEAH!

Swap Till You Drop! (Christmas in July)

I've been following lots of bloggers lately who participate in "swaps"... fun & random acts of joy where two strangers, (or friends), send each other special care-packages filled with precious goodies!

I've developed a passionate jealousy towards these individuals and am therefore initiating my OWN swap :)... I am looking for a generous, friendly stranger, (or someone I know), living in the US who would like to be my swap buddy! As Christmas in July approaches, I think it would be nice to make a special care-package for someone, (and receive one in return :)

Please leave a comment below, (or on my facebook wall), or send me an email at HCLeister11@gmail.com if you are interested in being my swap pal. I'm planning on spending about $20-25 on goodies, (not including shipping), to make you the best Christmas in July care-package ever! Here are some brilliant ideas for stuffing a successful care-package...

(hand-made crafts, stickers, jewelry, postcards, soaps, art supplies, books, mugs, candles, Christmas ornaments, candy, picture frames and other fun, unique trinkets)

To my future swap buddy... I can't wait to celebrate Christmas in July with you!

Home Sweet Home

I flew into D.C. Friday evening at 8:05 PM, (2:05 AM in Rome). I then waited 30 minutes to be shuttled to customs and another 30 minutes for my bag. By 9:05 PM, (3:05 AM in Rome), I was greeted with hugs and kisses by my lovely parentals and driven back to our wonderful Suburban home that smelled absolutely perfect :)

Other than being exhausted, I'm feeling MUCH better! The Italian meds I got from the hospital are simply marvelous. I got to see Brian yesterday and went with him to a party to celebrate one of his friend's birthdays, (I'm meeting the friends!)... He also invited me to a Nationals game on Tuesday with him and his co-workers, saying that he wanted to "show me off"... (he is too cute!)

I've unpacked the bags, done my laundry, made some Ramon noodles and am slowly getting back into the D.C. groove. Here are some of the reasons why I am SO happy to be home from Italy...

1) My house is air-conditioned
2) No more dividing garbage into 5 different bags
3) My life doesn't flash before my eyes when I cross the street
4) No hobos living on the steps outside my abode
5) I can communicate with people and read signs & labels
6) I don't see guidos everywhere I turn
7) Microwaves, toasters, dishwashers & clothes dryers
8) I don't have to kiss every single person I meet/encounter
9) Large grocery stores :)

When in Rome... DON'T Get Sick!!

There are so many things I could write about this morning as I sit in my 3-star hotel room in the middle of Campo de Fiori in Rome...

Here's the most important update: This is day #8 of having the stomach flu ruin my Roman experience. I've been stuck in bed in my un-air conditioned apartment, suffering alone and feeling like absolute death. I've had a fever, hot and cold chills and sweats, massive body aches, massive headaches, dizzy spells, weakness, exhaustion, nausea, etc. etc.

To make a long story short... I checked into the hospital yesterday to get treated. I couldn't stay hydrated and knew that it was time for serious medical attention. I got IVs stuck into my arms and tested for multiple diseases. Turns out it was definitely the stomach flu, but with severe inflammation in my intestines and abdominal murmurs... due to stress...

ERGO: Rome is ending early. I convinced Moomsical and Faji to let me come home so that they can pamper my sick little body from the comfort of our red-leather couch in our air-conditioned living room. America, I'm coming home!

Am I Too Old To Be Homesick!?

Things I miss about the United States:

1) Air Conditioning
2) My Suped-up Oatmeal Breakfast
3) Gas-guzzling SUVs
4) Mom
5) Dad
6) Whole Foods
7) Brian
8) Customer Service
9) The English Language
10) Clothes Dryers
11) Paved Streets
12) Wireless Internet Access

It's A European Dance Party!

I finally went to a legitimate European party last night...

Because my roommates and I only get internet access from our bathroom, we frequently sit in the window with laptops and gaze down into the piazza that surrounds our apartment. (We also like to check-out what the neighbors are up to :)

Yesterday, one of our neighbors shouted across the alley to Courtney and invited all of us to his little get-together that evening. We were PSYCHED! We bought 2 bottles of wine and headed over there around 11 pm. We were greeted with hundreds of kisses by drunk Italians who spoke mediocre English.

Candles were lit in the open windows, cigarette smoke filled the air and techno music blasted from someone's ipod. Gross Italian men tried to dance with us and sported outfits that define the term "Euro-trash." Some of the dudes were dressed in clothes that made them look like outlaws from the wild west. Some, oddly, wore outfits that resembled the Jonas Brothers. It was a very eclectic group of individuals.

The most charming people at the party were the European ladies. We met one girl from northern England who is an aspiring actress and gives tours at the Vatican. Another party-goer was a girl from the Netherlands who is here on vacation with her close friend. Her English was superb and she was so much fun to talk to!

I learned last night that Europeans hold their booze MUCH better than Americans. Maybe it's the fact that Americans chug their drinks from SOLO cups, while Europeans sip their beverages from Dixie Cups. Yeah, that's definitely it...

Today is June 6th, and I'll be heading home in less than 3 weeks... (I'll land in the states at 7:30 pm on June 27th)... Time to make the most of Rome. CIAO!

Mamma Mia... (Italia, Italia)

I haven't posted anything in 11 days. That's entirely UNACCEPTABLE! (Except for the fact that I'm in Italy and have better things to do then sit at the computer all day... that's right, be jealous!) Allow me to highlight as much as I can about what has happened in the past 11 days in the beautiful Italia...

1) I visited Tuscany last Sunday! A double-decker charter bus took me and some other JCUers to the charming little towns of Pienza and Montepulciano. Two days before arriving in Montepulciano, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart had been there filming scenes for "New Moon!" I got to see where the movie was filmed and took tons of pictures of the set. I can't wait to see the movie in November!

We also had a wine tasting in Montepulciano and a 5-course dinner at a cute little Tuscan restaurant. I'll say this much... dessert wine should not be taken as shots... and red wine spritzers are a horrible idea!

2) Courtney, (practically my wife over here), and I took a 3-day trip to Florence together earlier this week. We stayed in a fabulous hostel right in the middle of the city. I dragged her around to the Duomo, it's Baptistry, the Uffizi Gallery, the Palazzo Pitti, the Guardino di Boboli, San Marco Church, San Lorenzo Church, Santa Maria Novella Church, the Academia with the David statue, Ponte Vecchio and Orsan Michelle Church. What a lovely trip!

3) My "class" over here, digital photography, is an absolute joke. For 4 hours on Tuesday and Thursday morning, I listen to a Mr. Bean look-alike try to speak English while dragging the class around Rome, taking pictures of absolutely nothing. (At least I don't have any midterms or finals, but honestly... the class is a complete waste of time). The first class consisted of me teaching everyone how to blog since the incompetent teacher had no idea how to do it... Yet he requires all of the students to do it weekly... MORON!

4) I'm honestly kind of scared to "go out" at night here and party in the Italian bars and clubs. It took me over a year to feel comfortable partying in DC, and I'm only over here for 6 weeks! Italian men have about twice as much testosterone as American men. If I hear one more "Ciao Bella," I might have to cry haha. My roommate Frenchie actually found herself an Italian lover who takes her around on his vespa and invited her over the other night to meet his parents and eat his mother's duck. He showed up outside our window last night with an empty keg... shouting her name... I just laughed :)

That's all for now friends. I have to go meet Mr. Bean outside the Colosseum. He's teaching us how to take "sneaky" pictures today without people knowing we're snapping. Hopefully, he'll use the word "changement" again... CIAO!